Portable steam cleaner



L. M. GILBERTSON ETAL 3,039,454

June 19, 1962 PORTABLE STEAM CLEANER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 10, 1960 l .MG/L 55/? 7 s a N,]NVENTOR5 /.0.BURH, [Eda/v59 BY j if,

June 19, 1962 M. GILBERTSON ET AL 5 PORTABLE STEAM CLEANER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 n nmmm nfi Filed June 10, 1960 L ./V. 6/ 4 an? 7'5ON,INVENTORS 3,039,454 PORTABLE STEAM CLEANER Louis M. Gilbertson, Box 13, Brasstown, N.C.; and Verlin F. Jones, Rte. 4, and James D. Burch, Andrews Road, P0. Box 203, both of Murphy, N.C.

Filed June 10, 1960, Ser. No. 35,173 4 Claims. (Cl. 126--271.2)

This invention relates to a steam cleaner which may be readily carried and operated by one man for effectively cleaning enclosures such as machine shops, garages, filling stations, dairy barns and chicken houses which would ordinarily be inaccessible for steam cleaning.

Another object of the invention is to provide a steam cleaner which is also capable of use as a disinfector.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a steam cleaner including a heating system of extremely simple construction capable of effectively functioning for generating the steam dispensed by the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a steam cleaner having novel safety features enabling the steam cleaner to be employed as a fire extinguishing device; and to prevent a flareback of flames from the heating system of the device.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partly fragmentary, of the portable steam cleaner;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken substantially centrally through a rear part of the steam cleaner;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal central sectional view of a portion of the steam cleaner shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view taken through a part of the steam cleaner, substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view through a part of the steam cleaner, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 5-5 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged longitudinal, substantially central sectional view, partly in elevation and partly broken away, and showing the forward portion of the steam cleaner;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a part of one element of the steam cleaner;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, of a portion of another element of the steam cleaner, and

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a part of the rear end of the steam cleaner.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the portable steam cleaner in its entirety, as illustrated in FIG- URE l, is designated generally 10 and includes an elongated housing 11 which is preferably cylindrical in cross section and which has a front end wall 12 provided with a large centrally disposed opening 13, and an open opposite rear end 14.

A heat distributing cylinder 15 has a part extending through and fitting snugly in the front wall opening 13 and has an open rear end 16 disposed within the housing 11, adjacent its open rear end 14. The housing 11 contains an annular partition wall 17 extending between said housing and a part of the cylinder 15 and which is located near the front wall 12 to provide a front chamber 18 of thehousing. The annular front chamber 18 communicates with the remainder of the housing 11 by means of openings 19 in the partition 17, and said chamber 18 also communicates with the interior of the cylinder 15 ice through openings 20, formed in said cylinder, as seen in FIGURE 2.

A conduit, designated generally 21, includes metal pipes 22 and 23. The pipe 22 has a plurality of coils 24 wound loosely around the cylinder 15 and within the housing 11, between the end 14 thereof and the partition wall 17. One end 25 of the pipe 22 extends outwardly through an opening 26 of the housing 11 and which is spaced from the rear end 14, and said pipe end 25 terminates in a conventional coupling 27. The other end of the pipe 22, constituting a part of one of the coils 24, as seen in FIGURE 8, is connected to one end of the pipe 23 by brazing or otherwise, as seen at 28. The pipe 23 has an internal diameter of approximately one-half the internal diameter of the pipe 22, so that the connection 28 constitutes a reducer and said pipe 23 has a coiled portion 29 forming a continuation of the coil portion 24 and which also fits loosely around the cylinder 15 and within the housing 11, between said coiled portion 24 and the partition 17. The pipe 23 includes a part 30 forming an extension of the other end of its coiled portion 29 and which is turned back to extend between parts of the coiled portions 29 and 24 and the exterior of the cylinder 15. The pipe portion 30 has a U-shaped bend 31 engaging around a part of the open rear end of the cylinder 15 and a continuation 32 thereof extends from the bend 31 longitudinally through the cylinder 15, as will hereinafter be more fully described.

The cylinder 15 is perforated between its open rear end 16 and the partition 17, said perforations preferably being in the form of circumferentially elongated slots 33. The cylinder 15 contains a partition wall 34 which is disposed approximately midway between its rear end 16 and the partition wall 17, and said cylinder is also provided with an annular internal baffle 35 which is disposed between the partition 34 and said rear end 16 and which defines a relatively large central opening 36 through which a part of the conduit portion 32 extends. The partition 34 has a small opening 37 through which another part of the conduit portion 32 extends.

A tube 38 has an annular outwardly extending wall 39 at one end thereof, which wall 39 is provided with a cylindrical flange 4-3 at its periphery which projects in a direction away from the tube 38 and which fits turnably and slidably on the open rear end portion 14 of the housing 11. The cylindrical flange 40 has bayonet slots 41, as best seen in FIGURE 9, to receive studs 42 which project outwardly from the housing 11 to form bayonet joints for connecting the extension 39, 40 of the tube 38 to the rear end of the housing 11.

A part of a rigid fuel conduit 43 extends through the tube 38 and is secured therein by a suitable bracket 44 for supporting said conduit 43 immovably relative to said tube 38. One end of the fuel conduit 43 extends to beyond the open rear end 45 of the tube 38 and terminates in a coupling 46. The other end of the conduit 43 terminates in a nozzle 46 which is disposed vnthin the cylinder 15, near the open rear end 16 thereof, when the tube 38 is connected to the housing 11 by the bayonet joints 41, 42, as seen in FIGURES 2 and 3. The nozzle 46 discharges away from the rear end 16 of the cylinder 15 and toward the baffie 35. The conduit 43 includes a coiled portion 47 located adjacent to and beyond the nozzle 46.

A sleeve of electrical insulating material 48 extends through and is secured in a part of the annular wall 39 to accommodate therein a part of a conventional electric cord 49. A shield 51) of electrical insulating and heat resistant material is mounted on a part of the conduit 43, adjacent the nozzle 46, as best seen in FIGURE 3. The exposed end 51 of the positive conductor of the extension 'cord 49 extends through and is supported by the shield 50 as with the terminal of said conduct-or spaced slightly from the nozzle 46. The exposed end of the other negative conductor 52 of the extension cord 49 is connected to the conduit 43 near the nozzle 46. The extension cord 49 may be of any length and the other end thereof, which is disposed externally of the housing 11, is provided with a conventional plug 53 for connection to a conventional electrical outlet. A heat retaining plate 54 is secured to and disposed within the cylinder 15 beyond and adjacent the nozzle 46.

A rigid air conduit 55 is secured, intermediate of its ends, as by welding, as indicated at 56, to a part of the conduit 43 which is located beyond the open rear end 45 of the tube 38. The conduit 55 has a conventional coupling 57 at one end thereof and is provided at its opposite end with a nozzle 53 which is disposed behind and adjacent the open rear tube end 45.

The cylinder 15 terminates at its forward end in a reducer portion 59 which is located forwardly of and adjacent the housing front wall 12 and which connects with an open rear end of an exhaust pipe 66, so that said exhaust pipe forms a restricted extension of the heat distributing cylinder 15. As seen in FIGURE 6, the forward end of the exhaust pipe 60 is connected by a reducer portion 61 to the rear end of an exhaust pipe extension 62 which is substantially smaller in cross section than the exhaust pipe 60 and which has an open forward end 63 constituting the discharge end of the steam cleaner 10. The conduit portion 32 extends through a forward portion of the cylinder 15, through exhaust pipe 60 and into and partially through exhaust .pipe extension 62, and has a forward discharge end 64 set back a short distance from the discharge end 63 of the extension 62. As seen in FIGURE 6, the external diameter of the steam conduit portion 32 is substantially less than the internal diameter of the exhaust extension 62, so that an ample passage exists through the extension 62 around the conduit portion 32. The reducer 59 is provided with a plurality of openings 65.

The steam cleaner is preferably provided with an elongated handle 66 one end of which is secured by fastening means 67 to the housing 11, near the forward end of said housing. Another part of the handle 66 is connected to the housing 11, near the rear end of said housing, by a rigid link 68.

The coupling 27 is adapted to be connected to a source of water supply under pressure and which is flexible, such as the outlet end of a garden hose, not shown. The coupling 46' is connected to a source of fuel supply, not shown, and which may be in liquid form, and coupling 57 is connected to a source of compressed air, such as a storage tank or air compressor. As previously stated, the plug 53 is connected to a conventional electrical outlet. Accordingly, a spark will jump from the exposed conductor end 51 to the nozzle 46, since said nozzle is connected to the negative conductor 52, for igniting the fuel discharged from said nozzle. The heat from the burning fuel will heat the coil 47 for gasifying the liquid passing therethrough. The compressed air emitted from the nozzle 58 is directed through the tube 38 and draws additional air from the surrounding atmosphere into said tube through its open rear end 45 for supplying oxygen to the burner 46, 51. The plate 54 is heated by the flame from the burner to a sufficient extent to maintain the coil 47 hot and to insure burning of any fuel not ignited as it leaves the nozzle. The air from the nozzle 58 additionally creates a draft through the cylinder 15 from its rear end 16 so that the heat and products of combustion are directed forwardly, and the baflle 35 and partition 34 cause the heat and products of combustion to pass from the interior of the cylinder 15 outwardly through the slots 33 located between the rear cylinder end 16 and partition 34, which products of combustion pass through and around the coils 24- and 29 for heating the water passing therethrough and for converting said water into steam. A part of the heat and products of combustion pass through openings 19, chamber 18 and openings 20 back into the cylinder 15 while the remainder of the heat and products of combustion pass 'back into the cylinder 15 through its openings 33 between the partition 34 and said openings 20 and assist in further heating the coil 29 and the conduit portion 32. The steam emitted from the forward end of the coil 29 is superheated during its passage through the conduit portions 30 and 32 until it is emitted from the outlet 64. The steam discharged from the outlet 64 intermingles with the heat and products of combustion which are being propelled through the exhaust extension 62 and this mixture is discharged from the cleaner outlet 63. Since the steam discharge 64 is located inwardly with respect to the outlet 63 the spreading of the steam is restricted so that the steam can be directed more accurately against a surface to be cleaned thereby.

The exposed end of the fuel conduit 43 is preferably provided with a shutolf valve 69 for shutting off the fuel supply in the event of fire and so that the device 10 could then function as a fire extinguisher by water being emitted from the conduit outlet 64.

The openings 65 in the reducer 59 primarily provide an emergency exhaust in the event that gas should build up within the housing 11 and cylinder 15 while the burner 46, 51 was not in operation, so that when the burner was again placed in operation and these gases ignited, the resulting flame could escape through the ports 65 without causing a flareback through the tube end 45.

It will also be apparent that the coupling 27 could be connected to a source of water supply under pressure containing a disinfectant so that the device 10 could function for disinfecting as well as cleaning.

It will be apparent that the amount of fuel and compressed air required for operation of the cleaner 10 is so slight that a fuel tank and compressed air storage tank for supplying the cleaner could be carried by the operator where the cleaner is utilized in inaccessible places where compressed air and fuel might not be available, and a portable source of electric current can also be carried by the operator to supply current for the burner 46, 51. The shield 50 functions to prevent the blast of air from the nozzle 58 extinguishing the flame of the burner while enabling a sufiicient draft to be maintained to carry the heat and products of combustion through the apparatus to its outlet 63.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may be resorted to, without departing from the function or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. A portable steam cleaner comprising an elongated housing having a forward end and a rear end, a heat distributing cylinder extending through said forward end of the housing and having an open rear end located within the housing near the rear end thereof, an exhaust conduit forming a restricted extension of the forward end of said cylinder, a pipe carrying water under pressure having a coiled portion disposed within said housing around a part of said cylinder and an outlet end discharging into said exhaust conduit, said part of the cylinder being foraminous, an air inlet tube opening into said housing through the rear end thereof, a fuel supply conduit having a discharge nozzle opening into the rear end of said cylinder, electrical ignition means partially contained within said housing for igniting the fuel emitted from said nozzle, means supplying air under pressure to said air inlet tube for supplying oxygen to ignite the fuel and for creating a draft through said housing and cylinder toward said exhaust conduit, and baffle means in the cylinder and housing for deflecting the heat and products of combustion from the ignited fuel back and forth through said cylinder and housing and around the coiled portion of the water conduit for converting the water passing through said pipe into steam and for expelling the steam With the products of combustion through the discharge end of said exhaust extension.

2. A portable steam cleaner as in claim 1, means detachably connecting said air inlet tube to the rear end of the housing, and means supporting the fuel supply conduit and the air supplying means on said air inlet tube.

3. A portable steam cleaner as in claim 1, and a shield connected to said fuel conduit and disposed to shield the nozzle and a part of the electrical ignition means from the air passing into the housing and cylinder from said air inlet tube.

4. A portable steam cleaner comprising an elongated housing having a forward end and a rear end, an exhaust conduit communicating with the interior of said housing and extending from the forward end thereof, a steam generator contained within said housing including a liquid fuel burner having electric ignition means and a steam coil disposed to be heated thereby and having an outlet 6 end discharging into said exhaust conduit, means supplying air under pressure to the housing through the rear end thereof for supplying oxygen to the burner and for creating a draft through the housing and exhaust conduit, and baffle means contained Within said housing for directing heat and products of combustion hack and forth through and around the steam coil and into said exhaust conduit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,133,564 Junkers Mar. 30, 1915 1,883,733 Hahn Oct. 18, 1932 2,289,674 Ofeldt July 14, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 262,836 Great Britain Dec. 23, 1926 411,275 Great Britain June 7, 1934 483,710 Great Britain Apr. 25, 1938 

